ESCI 211 YELLOWSTONE: A SCIENTIFIC LABORATORYLecture: Tues, Thurs 3:35-4:50 Leon Johnson 346;
Labs: Wed 2:10, 3:10, 4:10 Traphagen 116
Instructor: Prof Cathy Whitlock
TAs: Steph Mumma and Ben Whaley
Check WebCT page for information (http://eu.montana.edu)
Required Textbooks:
Smith, R.B., and Siegel, L.J. 2000. Windows into the Earth; the Geologic story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Oxford University Press.
Good, J.M., and Pierce, K.L. 1996. Interpreting the Landscape of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. Grand Teton National History Association.
Schullery, P. 2004. Searching for Yellowstone; Ecology and Wonder in the Last Wilderness. Montana Historical Society Press.
Also required:
Geologic Map of Yellowstone National Park (available in your Lab/Discussion section)
Rite in the Rain field notebook (available at MSU Bookstore)
Dates
Lecture Topics
Discussion Leader
8/288/30
9/49/6
Intro: Science in Yellowstone
How science works
Reading Maps
Question 1: Is Yellowstone
going to erupt soon?
The geologic framework of
Yellowstone and the rock
cycle
Field trip to the Yellowstone
caldera
How do volcanoes work?
The Yellowstone hot spot
Putting it all together
Discussion: Yellowstone
eruption
Quiz 1
What caused the ice ages?
Whitlock
9/119/13
9/15
(Sat)
9/189/20
9/259/27
10/210/4
10/910/11
10/13
(Sat)
10/1610/18
10/2310/25
10/3011/1
Question 2: What is the
evidence of Yellowstone’s
ice age?
How glaciers work
Yellowstone’s glacial legacy
Field trip: Ice age
Yellowstone
How rivers work
Discussion: Yellowstone’s ice
age
Question 3: How will
Yellowstone be affected by
global climate change?
Yellowstone’s past
Ecosystem basics/Review for
Quiz
Quiz 2
Question 4: What role does
science play in addressing
current Yellowstone
controversies?
11/611/8
Climate change in GYE
Native fish in crisis
11/10
(Sat)
11/1311/15
Field trip in the northern
range
Bison & Brucellosis in the
GYE
Group debate: climate change
from different perspectives
Exploration and development
of YNP
Group presentations
11/20
11/2711/29
12/412/6
12/10
Group presentations
Revised papers due (12/4)
Take-home final
Important Dates/
Deadlines
Smith & Siegel, Chap 1
Good & Pierce, Chaps 2-3
Smith & Siegel, Chaps 2-3
Good & Pierce, Chaps 4
Whitlock
Whitlock
Whitlock/Mumma/Whaley
Whitlock
Dr. Colin Shaw (MSU)
Whitlock
Whitlock
Dr. Ken Pierce (USGS)
Pierce/Whitlock/
Mumma/Whaley
Students
Required Reading
Lab/Discussion session
(Wed)
Introduction to web-based
materials
Group projects and
developing an outline
Smith & Siegel, Chaps 4-5
Good & Pierce, Chap 4
The Rock Cycle
Good & Pierce, Chap 5
9/27: Group discussion
Real-time earthquake,
geyser, and other activity
Review for quiz
10/2: Quiz 1
Milankovitch cycles
9/13: Project contract
due
9/15: Field notebook
due at end of trip
Good & Pierce, Chaps 8-9
Smith &Siegel, Chap 6
Preparing for discussion
See web resources
Group paper
bibliography/plagarism
10/25: Outline and
bibliography due
Millspaugh et al. 2000
Schullery, Chaps 1-2
Analysis of sediment cores
10/30: Quiz 2 in class
Schullery, Chaps 3-4
Recent climate trends in
GYE
Schullery Chaps 5-6
Preparing for debate
Schullery, Chaps 7, 9
Discussion of Schullery
Schullery, Chaps 10-11
No lab
Schullery, Chaps 12-13
Quiz 3 in lab
10/13: Field notebook
due at end of trip
10/18: Group
discussion
Whitlock
Dr. Bob Crabtree (YERC)
Whitlock
Dr. Bob Gresswell
(USGS)
YERC crew
Whitlock/Mumma/Whaley
Dr. Paul Cross (USGS)
Students
Students
Students
11/11: Field notebook
due at end of trip
11/15: Climate change
debate
11/20: Group paper
due
Group paper returned
for revisions
11/27, 11/29: Group
presentations (15 min)
11/28: Quiz 3
12/4: Final paper due
12/10: Take-home
final by 2 pm